Compression relief device for starting engines



Feb. 1, 1949. c. c. CASTILLO 2,460,338

COMPRESSION RELIEF DEVICE FOR STARTING ENGINES Filed April 22, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. CIR/L0 C. CASTILLO ATTOPN E Y Feb. 1, 1949. c.c. CASTILLO 2,460,338

COMPRESSION RELIEF DEVICE FOR STARTING ENGINES Filed April 22, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet 2 3 f E Z 2 INVENTOR.

Che/4o CT 64377440 Patented Feb. 1, 1949 PATENT OFFICE conrnsssion mamasnnvrca FOR s'rmmqsncmss -Girilo o. Castillo, nosnngeles. Calif.Application April 22. 1947, Serial No. 743.022 l .6 cl ims. (01.123-482.)

This invention relatesto akoompression relief device for startingan-en-glne. I V

The general lobzl'ectof the dnventlon is to provide an improvedapparatus for efiec ting prompt starting of a high compression internalcombustion engine such as-of the Diesel type;

A more specific 'ohiec't of the invention is to provide a novelmeans'for actuating the compresslon reducingmember of a Diesel engine tolow compression pos'rtion'and thereafter caus ing actuation of thestarter mechanism.

A further obedt of the invention is to provide a novel, manuallyactuated. 'val ve controlled, compressed air operated starter for Dieselen glnes.

Other objects and advantages of my irrverrtiofn will 'be apparent fromthe rollowing description, taken connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wl-xcrein r Fig. 1 is a-di-agramrnatrc section showing anamltomzrtlve' vehicle improved starter applled thereto;

Fig. 2 is a section taken-chime 2-4, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3' is a sectlontaken on line 3-3', Fig. El;

Fig. 4 1s a View similar to roe. 3. show ingparts in anotherpos'i tion:I, i

Fig. 5 is a sectlon taken on llne a' -iffiig. 3;

Fig. -6 is a frag-mentairysection taken on line 6-6, Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken onflirle 1--7,Fig. 5; 1

Fig. 8' is an enlarged elevation w lt-h parts in section showing thestarter operating mechanism'; K v

Fig. '9wis a fragmentary section taken on line 9-4], Fig. 4; t

Fig. 10 is a sectional- View taken on line l'fl, Fig. 2,a:nd j

Fig. 11 is a section throughthe engineflywheel housing showing theconnectionof the engine starter to the engine shaft.

Referring to the drawingfby reference charactors, I have shown myinvention as embodied in a starting apparatus which 'is indicatedgenerally at I11. As shown, the apparatus is mount ed on an automotivevehicle- Hwhich :is driven by aDiesel engine.

The engine includes a flywheel me, having a housing lab 'thereahouts.The engine includes a shaft 120, which is oonneoted'to the flywheel. Theflywheel includes teeth Ii2d,.-lwmch mesh teeth He on astarter gear 4292. "Thest'aa'ter gear I I2} is mounted-on "a My. Match is driven byastartmg motor. Mechanisms: tmstypetor View. with par'tsfin my turningover the motorls old and forms no part of the present invention.

Diesel engines operate under a high compression and in order to permitthe starting motor 3 to operate, it is necessary that this compressionbe decreased while the startmg motor is building up speed in the engine.To permit this decrease of compression in the cylinders, Diesel enginesare usually provided with means such as an arm 10; l3 mounted on a shaftl4 and the construction is such that when the arm is rocked from a fullline position in Fig. 2 to a broken line position .in this figure thecompression will be reduced. The mechanism of this type for reducingcorn-- we pression is old and for-ms no part of the present invention.

Referring again to the drawing, I have shown the arm l3 as engaged byoneend l5 of a'spr'ing' IS. The other end H ofthe spring is shown asattached to a boss 18 on the engine l2 so that the compression isnormally fully maintained.

In order to first break the compression and cause the starter to beoperated, I provide a cylinder -9 which has a forwardly projecting '2'5'arm 20 which has a slot 21. g The arm is pi-vo'tally attached to theboss *8 by a threaded shaft 22. The cylinder E9 receives a piston 2'3which has a piston rod 24 passing a head 2 5 on the cylinder. The pistonrod 24 includes an end fitting 26 which secured by a pin 2 to the freeend of the arm 33.

The rorward end of the cylinder 1% is provided with a fitting 2 8 whichis connected to a flexible tube 29 through which compressed air may hedelivered to the cylinder. The cylinder also includes another fittings!)which is connectedito a flexible tube 3| to the starter. Thus when:conmress'edQ-air asses'throogh the pipe 29420 the cylinderlt 111loperatethe broken l-ine position in Fig; 2 and during its .motion afterthe arm I3 has been mocked to (compression breaking position the pistonwill clear the fitting .30 thus permitting compressed air in thecylinder to pass through the pipe 34 to the starter. "The starterincludes an operating member 32 which 'is conventional and which whenpushed will cause the starting motor to turn over the engine crankshaft.

In my construction, as shown, Imount a sleeve 33 about the starterbutton. "The cylinder includes opposed slots 3-! through which pins 35move. inner cylinder tit-which has a closed end 31. The

end 31 includes a bleed-aperture 31". "The inner 23 causingthe'latter'tomoye-thesim as to the The pins =35 are mounted in a slidingcylinder 35 includes a fitting 38 at one side and a slot 39 in thesleeve 33 permits movement of the fitting 33 and the cylinder 3%. Ihetube 35 is preferably flexible and is connected to the fitting 38 sothat compressed air from the tube 3! may pass to the interior of thesliding cylinder 35 to cause inward movement of a piston it. The pistonll) engages the starter member 32 so that when compressed air passesthrough to tube 3! the piston "50 will cause an inward movement of thestarter member 32 to operate the starter. The conventional starter stem32 is normally spring pressed so that the piston ll] is urged to theposition shown in Fig. 6.

To permit operation of the starter in the absence of a supply ofcompressed air-,1 may mount a plunger ll on the foot boardlfi of thevehicle.

The plunger is normally urged to the position shown in Fig. 6 by aspring d3. A head id of the plun er 44 engages the head 3? of thecylinder t i so that whena button 35 on the-stem 65 is depressed thecylinder 3%- will move inwardly and the head 31 will engage the pistonand will move the latter, causing the starter memberSZ to be depressed.

Itwill be understood that the plunger ii and associated parts providedfor effecting the starting operation 'are of an emergency nature andwould only be operated on rare occasions when the supply of compressedair is exhausted.

In order to supply compressed. air to the pipe 29, I provide a pipe 56which is connected by 4 hole 19 in the closure 62. The hole 19communicates with the fitting 29.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the hole 79communicates with a hole 80 in the closure 62 and the hole ascommunicates with a hole 8| in the valve 59. The hole 8! communicateswith the chamber 58 so that in the position of Fig. 3 compressed airpasses through the pipe 50, the valve 51, which is then'open tothe-chamber 58, through hole 3|, hole 19 and to pipe 29 to actuate thepiston 23 to thereby rock the arm 13 and thus break the compression. As

soon as the piston 23 clears the fitting 30 compressed air passesthrough the tube 3| and fitting 0 position the pipe 29 communicates withthe aperture18 and through the holes [6, bore 15, hole 71, hole H andhole 10, to the atmosphere. This bleeds the cylinder [9 so that thespring l6 moves the compression controlling arm 13 to full com- 25pression position and the engine operates indefitting 5i to a compressedair reservoir 52 which is f provided with compressed air from anysuitable source. The pipe 58 is connected by a fitting 53 in a controlvalve base 56. The fitting 53'communicateswith a chamber 55 in the base54. The chamber 55 in turn communicates with a check valve 55 whichincludes a projecting valve ball 5'? which is normally seated as by aspring 51'. The valve ball 5? prevents normal passage of air through thepipe 55. The valve base 5% has a cavity 58 in which a control valvemember 59 rotates. The valve to includes a stem 9 which passes through ahole 61 in a closure 32. The, closure is held in place as by bolts 53.

The-lower face of the valve 59 includes-a de- I pendingboss 6:1 whichmay have a cam end 65. The boss 64 extends peripherally aboutthe valvehead 59 so that when the valve head is turned (in the act of startingthe engine, as will be later described), the cam 65 will engage thevalve ball 57 to open the va1ve56 and allow compressed air to pass fromthe pipe 50 to the chamber 58.

The closure 62 includes a radially drilled hole 10 which communicateswith a hole 1: which 7 l3 limit the movement of the handle l3. When thehandle 13 is in the position shown in Fig. 3

the holes Hand 7'! are both closed. When the handle 13 is in theposition shown in Fig. 4, the hole 7! communicates with the hole H andthrough thehole Hi to the atmosphere but at the same time the hole 76communicates with a hole l8 which in turn communicates with a radialpendent of the starter. Air in the cylinder 36 gradually bleedstherefrom through the holes 31.

In the absence of a supply of compressed air, the arm l3 may be rockedmanually to the broken line position shownin Fig. 2 and. thereafter thebutton maybe depressed to push the cylinder 36 inwardly and therebyactuate the starter.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have inventeda novel starting device which is simple in construction and is reliablein operation. 7 7

Having thus'described my invention, I claim: 1. In a starting device foran internal combustion engine which includes a shiftable com- 40pression releasing arm and a, movable starter operating member, acylinder, means adapted to support the cylinder on an engine, a pistonin the cylinder, means adapted to connect the piston to a compressionreleasing arm, a source of compressed air, acontrol valve, conduit.means connecting the source of compressed air to the control valve,means connectingsaid control valve to saidcylinder, said control valvewhen in on position permitting flow from the source tothe cylinder,means to bleed the cylinder to the atmosphere when the control valve isin off. position, a second cylinder adapted to be disposed adjacent to astarter operating member, a second piston in the second cylinder, saidsecond pistonbeing adapted to actuate a starter operating member,conduit; means to supply fluid to the second cylinder after the firstpiston has started its movement, and means adapted to normallyport thecylinder on an engine, a piston in the cylinder, means adapted toconnect the piston to acompression releasing arm, a source of compressedair, a control valve, conduitmeans connecting the source of compressedair to the control valve, said conduit means including a check valvenormally preventing the flow from the source of compressed air to thecontrol valve, means operable when the control valve is moved from foposition to release the check valve to permit compressed airito pass tosaid control c eeses valve, means --connectmz soid,control valve to saidcylinder, said control valve when in "021 position permitting flow fromthe source to the cylinder, means to bleed the cylinder "to theatmosphere when the control valve isin "off" position;a-s'econd-cylinder adapted to be disposed adjacentte a starteroperating, membena second piston in the second cylinder, said secondpiston being adapted to engage a starter operating'member, conduitmeans'to supply fluid 'totne second cylinder after the first piston hasstarted its movement, and means adapted to normally urge the compressionreleasing arm to full compressed position.

3. In a starting device for an internal combustion engine which includesa shiftable compression releasing arm and a movable starter operatingmember, a cylinder, means adapted to support the cylinder on an engine,a piston in the cylinder, means adapted to connect the piston to thecompression releasing arm, a source of compressed air, a control valve,conduit means connecting the source of compressed air to the controlvalve, means to bleed the cylinder to the atmosphere when the controlvalve is in ofi position, a sleeve cylinder adapted to be disposedadjacent to a starter operating member, an inner cylinder in saidsleeve, means to limit the movement of the inner cylinder in the sleeve,a piston in the sleeve, said piston being adapted to engage a starteroperating member, manual means for moving said sleeve to actuate thestarter, conduit means to supply fluid to the inner cylinder, and meansto connect the last mentioned conduit means to the first cylinder at alocation to permit passage of compressed air to the last mentionedconduit when the first mentioned piston approaches the outer limit ofits movement.

4. In a starting device for an internal combustion engine which includesa shiftable compression releasing arm and a movable starter operatingmember, a cylinder, means adapted to support the cylinder on an engine,a piston in the cylinder, means adapted to connect the piston to thecompression releasing arm, a source of compressed air, a control valve,conduit means connecting the source of compressed air to the controlvalve, said conduit means including a check valve normally preventingfiow from the source of compressed air tothe control valve, meansoperable when the control valve is moved from 011" position to releasesaid check valve to permit compressed air to pass to said control valve,means connecting said control valve to said cylinder, said control valvewhen in on position permitting now from the source to the cylinder,means to bleed the cylinder to the atmosphere when the control valve isin the o position, a second cylinder adapted to be disposed adjacent toa starter operating member, a second piston in the second cylinder, saidsecond piston being adapted to engage a starter operating member,conduit means to supply fluid to the second cylinder, means to connectthe last men tioned conduit means to the first cylinder at a location topermit passage of compressed air to the last mentioned conduit when thefirst mentioned piston approaches the outer limit of its movement, andmeans adapted to normally urge the compression releasing arm to fullcompression position,

5. In a starting device for an internal combustion engine which includesa shiftable compression releasing arm and a movable starter operatingmember, a cylinder, means adapted to support the cylinder on an engine,a piston in the eyl inden'tnoans adapted to connect the piston to acompression rel-easing a source of compressed: air, a control valve,conduit means connecting the sou-roe of compressed air to the controlvalve, said conduitmea-ns including a check valvenormall'y preventingflow from the source of compressed air to the control valve, meansoperable when the control valve is moved from on position to releasesaid check valve to permit compressed air to pass tosjaid control valve,means connecting said control valve to said cylinder, said control valvewhen in on position permitting flow from the source to the cylinder,means to bleed the cylinder to the atmosphere when the control valve isin off position, a sleeve adapted to be disposed adjacent to a starteroperating member, a second cylinder in said sleeve, means to limit themovement of the second cylinder in the sleeve, a second piston in thesecond cylinder, said second piston being adapted to engage a starteroperating member, manual means for moving said second cylinder toactuate a starter, conduit means to supply fiuid to the second cylinder,means to connect the last mentioned conduit means to the first cylinderat a location to permit passage of compressed air to the last mentionedconduit when the first mentioned piston approaches the outer limit ofits movement, and means adapted to normally urge the compressionreleasing arm to full compression position.

6. In a starting device for an internal combustion engine which includesa shiftable compression releasing arm and a movable starter operatingmember, a cylinder, means adapted to support the cylinder on an engine,a piston in the cylinder, means adapted to connect the piston to acompression releasing arm, a source of compressed air, a control valveincluding a valve chamber, conduit means connecting the source ofcompressed air to the chamber, said conduit means including a checkvalve, a valve member rotatable to on and off positions and disposed insaid chamber, means carried by the valve member and operable when'thevalve member is moved from off position to release said check valve topermit compressed air to enter said chamber, a closure for said chamber,said closure having a conduit therein, means connecting said conduit toone end of said cylinder, said valve member having a conduittherethrough, said conduit communicating when the valve member is in onposition with said chamber and said last mentioned conduit, said closurehaving a second conduit, said second conduit communicating with theatmosphere at one end, said valve member having a conduit communicatingwith the other end of said second conduit when the valve member is in oposition, said closure having an exhaust conduit communicating with saidfirst valve member conduit, said closure exhaust conduit communicatingwith said first valve member conduit when the valve member is in oiiposition to bleed the cylinder, a sleeve adapted to be disposed adjacentto a starter operating member, a second cylinder in said sleeve, meansto limit the movement of the second cylinder in the sleeve, a secondpiston in the second cylinder, said second piston being adapted toengage a starter operating member, manual means for moving said secondcylinder to actuate a starter operating member, conduit means to supplyfluid to the cylinder, means to connect the last mentioned conduit meansto the first cylinder at a location to permit passage of com- REFERENCESCITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

Number Q; .b rE iAI SL AIENT 1; 7

Name I I -Date I-Iarley Apr. 27, 1915 Godfrey Dec. 19, 1939 Feb 3, 1942FoREI N PATENLS Country Date France -1. 1939

